Scrap Metal Selling Guide

Knowing what to do or how much you’ll get when you get scrap metal can be incredibly daunting – prices are everywhere and regulations mean that you need to choose the company you sell to carefully. Our guide runs through some of the biggest FAQs our customers ask, and how the selling process could work for you.

What Scrap Metal Is Worth The Most?

Pricing is always the key question our customers ask, and understandably so! Knowing which metals are worth the most, whether you’re a business or just selling your own scrap metal, is key to getting the most return.

Copper still leads the way as the most valuable non-ferrous scrap metal around; the sustainable living charity WRAP put the price at over £3600 per tonne. New figures are due to be released this year, so check back for our next update!

UK Scrap Metal Prices – What Can I Get?

It’s important to note that the prices above are the overall average prices for the UK from data provided by the renewable and sustainable environment charity WRAP – prices can easily vary from one scrap yard to another, so you may find prices are higher or lower than this.

There are loads of factors which can determine the final price you’re offered per tonne, so the best bet to be as accurate as possible is to contact your chosen scrapyard and ask for an estimate. A final value can be given on-site.

What Scrap Metal Can I Sell?

Virtually all metals can be sold for scrap, but those that will offer the biggest returns and hold the highest value for our customers are aluminium and steel, ferrous metals and non-ferrous metals.

Ferrous metals include:

Cast iron

Light iron

Ferrous metals are valued separately to non-ferrous metals like aluminium and copper and, while they can fetch less per tonne, it’s the grading which really determines the value;

Non-ferrous metals include:

Copper

Brass

Aluminium

Lead

These metals can be found in vehicles, commercial buildings, manufacturing equipment, building materials and cabling – it all depends on what, as a business or member of the public, you have that you’re willing to scrap.

Can I Get Cash For Scrap Metal?

Unfortunately, scrap metal yards are unable to offer physical cash for any scrap metal due to government legislation. Any Instead, we can pay you for scrap metal via:

Bank transfer

Through a debit card

By cheque

You’ll still get the same rates, it’s just a more secure payment method – it benefits both customers and businesses.

What ID Do I Need To Bring For Selling Scrap Metal?

This is a really common question from our customers, but it’s nothing complicated at all. We required a photo card driving licence or a UK/EEA passport along with proof of address that’s no more than three months old.
If you’re selling a car, van or other vehicle for scrap then you need to also provide us with the V5 document in your name – it must match your other forms of ID.